Folding table



May 26, 1931. A. WAGNER FOLDING TABLE Filed March 3. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet1 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented May 26, 1931 UNITED STATES ANDREW WAGNER,OF WEST HOBOKEN,

New" inn-say, nssroavon TO rnneUsoN BROTHERS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OFHoB'oKn'N; NEW ann'sny, A con-roan- TION OF NEW JERSEY FOLDING TABLE-Application filed March 3,

This invention relates to folding tables and more particularly to thefolding leg structure adapted for use on portable tables, such as cardtables, and it comprises improved means for latching thetable legs whenin use.

An object of the invention is to provide a structure which is strong,rigid, durable and not encumbered by brace rods and guide ways.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficientmeans of mounting and holding the legs in position within the table top.7

A still further object of the invention is to provide certainimprovements in the form, construction and arrangement of the severalparts whereby the above named and other objects may be effectivelyattained.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 represents a detail inverted planview, partly in section, of a portion of a table having applied theretomy improved folding leg structure in its folded position in the table;

Fig. 2 represents a detail vertical section, on a larger scale, taken inthe plane of the line IIII of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of thearrows, and

Fig. 3 represents a similar view with the leg in position as in use.

In the drawings I have shown my improved folding leg applied to anoctagonal table and, in Fig. 1 I have represented a portion of two legsin the position they will assume in the table when folded.

The side frames of the table are denoted by 1, the top by 2 and thecovering for the top by 3. The frame, top and cover are assembled in anywell known or approved manner. A chip rack tis secured to each of theside frames 1 in the usual manner.

Each folding leg structure comprises aleg 5 having its upper end 6pivoted to swing on a bolt 7, one end of which is mounted in a. checkpiece 8 secured by screws 9 to a filler block 10 fixed in the angle oftwo adjacent side frames, while the other end of the bolt 7 is supported1928. Serial No.258,816.

' in a bracket 11 fastened to the side frames 1 and block 10 by screws'12.. The head 13 of the bolt is square and is housed in a square hole llin the tiller block 10, to prevent the bolt from turning when the legis swung thereon. The opposite end of the bolt 7 is screw threaded toreceive a thumb screw 15, which is manipulated to increase or decreasethe frictional contact between the end of theleg 6, cheek piece 8 andthe bracket 11.

The upper end 6 of the leg 5 is notched at" 16 and the arrangement ofthebolt therein is such as to allow the leg to lie flat against theunder surface of the top 2 when folded, as clearly shown in Fig. 2,while the notched portion 16 is arranged to engage the filler lilock 10when the leg is in use, as shown in A latch 17 is disposed in alongitudinal slot 18 in the upper end of the leg 5 and secured thereinby means of a screw 19 passing through a hole 20 in the end of thelatch. A spring 21' is seated in a recess 22 formed in the'bottom of theslot 18'and arranged to exert pressure against the latch 17 to forceitoutwardly. The outward movement of the latch is limited by the head 23of the screw 24, which passes through a hole 25 in the latch and issecured in the bottom of the recess 22. The-bottom of the longitudinalslot 18 is inclined so that the freeend of'the latch 17 may swing inwardtherein. Thisfreeend of the latch is provided with a hook having arounded end 26 terminating in an outward and downward portion 27. Thishooked'en'd of the latch is arranged to be brought into engagement witha keeper 28 secured to the side frame 1 by screws 29. The keeper 28 hasa hole 30, one edge of which is disposed in position to be engaged bythe rounded end 26 and the outward and downward portion 27 of the hook,which engagement forces the latch, against the tension of thespring-'21, until the portion 27 passes into a recess 31 in the fillerblock 10, whereupon the spring will exert its tension and the hook andlatch become interlocked with the keeper 28 as clearly shownin Fig. 3.

In this position it will be seen that the notch is held firmly againstthe filler block 10, thereby forming a solid support for the leg.

For convenience, the latch is provided with a button 32, which ismanipulated to move the latch and release the hook from the keeper 28.

When it is desired to fold the leg 5 against the table top, the button32 is pressed so that the latch 17 will rock on its screw 19 and recedeinto the longitudinal slot 18 against the tension of the spring 21, asshown in dotted outline in Fig. 3. This movement of the latch places theportion 27 of the hook in position to be removed from the hole 30 in thekeeper 28 by swinging the leg on its pivot 7. The leg 5 is held in itsfolded position by frictional contact of the upper portion 6, cheekpiece 8 and bracket 11.

It is obvious that various changes may be resorted to in the form,construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing fromthe spirit and scope of my invention; and hence, I do not intend to belimited to the details herein shown and de scribed, except as they maybe included in the claims.

What I claim is:

1. A folding table comprising, a top including a depending frame,foldable legs, means for pivoting the legsto said frame, each of saidlegs having a notch adjacent its pivoted end arranged to engage theframe when in its unfolded position,-keepers on the frame, each of saidlegs also having a longitudinal recess opening into said notch, a springactuated latch pivoted in each recess and provided with a hooked enddisposed in position to overhang the notch and project outwardly fromthe recess, said legs being arranged to be swung to bring said hookedends into coaction with the keepers for automatically locking the legsin their unfolded position.

2. A folding table comprising, atop including adepending frame, foldablelegs, means for pivoting the legs to said'frame, each of said legshavinga notch adjacent its pivoted end arranged to engage the frame whenin its unfolded position, keepers on the frame, each of said legs alsohaving a longitudinal recess opening into said notch, a spring actuatedlatch pivoted in each recess and provided with a hooked end disposed inposition to overhang the notch and project outwardly from the recess,said legs being arranged to be swung to bring said hooked ends intocoaction with the keepers for automatically locking the legs in their"unfolded position, said latches being manually operated to release'thehookedends from the keepers and the legs from their locked position.

In testimony thatI claim the foregoingias my invention, I have signed myname this 1st day of, March, 1928.

" ANDREW WAGNER.

